The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it is intensifying efforts to curb smuggling activities in Badagry area of Lagos State , urging communities in the area to support its fight against smugglers.
The Area Controller of the Western Marine Command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, spoke during a visit to the Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, and his council of chiefs on Tuesday.
Ntadi said the fight to rid the area of economic saboteurs was not for the service alone,but for all stakeholders, including the various communities.
Ntardi, who also noted that coastal communities and border areas were regular routes used by smugglers to bring in illicit substances into the country, said his men were on high alert to ensure illegal activities do not thrive in Badagry.
He said smuggling of illicit substances had contributed greatly the menace of drug abuse in Badagry and beyond.
He said that the command had designed a number of initiatives and implementing a number of interventions to curb the twin problem of smuggling and drug abuse in Badagry.
“We need the cooperation of our community leaders to fight smuggling
“Drug abuse is not only destroying our youth, but it is also hurting our economy and social structure.
“The Customs Service ,under the leadership of the Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi, has created a Care Desk through which community concerns and welfare requests can be forwarded for appropriate action.
“Our goal is to ensure that we have a productive society and suppress economic saboteur.
“We will use constant sensitisation and other initiatives to take our youths off the streets and channel their energy into meaningful ventures,”the Comptroller said.
Ntadi, who revealed that he had lived in Badagry for over two decades, described his visit as both personal and professional.
He said the customs service had enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the community and was committed to strengthening that bond.
In his response, Chief Abel Ogunbiyi, the Onipetoji of Badagry Kingdom,who spoke on the traditional ruler, commended Ntadi for his honesty, consistency, and devotion to duty.
He praised the customs boss for frequently engaging communities in awareness campaigns against smuggling and drug use in the past.
Ogunbiyi, however, expressed concern over the growing unemployment crisis, noting that many young people in Badagry had turned to smuggling and drug peddling as survival strategies.
“The youths are not lazy; they are simply frustrated by a lack of opportunities.
“We appeal to customs and other agencies to extend employment opportunities to our youths to give them hope.”
Chief Emmanuel Afolabi, the Zonlin-Gbedudugan of Badagry Kingdom, described the rise in drug consumption as alarming and warned that the community risked having “lunatic youths” roaming the streets in a few years if the problem persisted.
He called on customs to involve other security agencies and community associations in the sensitisation effort, saying collective action would be key to saving the next generation.
Another community leader, Chief Thomas Yemayinse, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the absence of jobs and social amenities, had made youths vulnerable to illicit trade.
“If we can create opportunities, these youths will become assets, not threats to the society,” he said.
As the meeting drew to a close, both the customs delegation and the traditional rulers agreed to sustain regular engagements aimed at promoting awareness, mutual respect, and partnership for safer communities.
